Warfare (film)
Warfare | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by |
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Written by |
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Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | David J. Thompson |
Edited by | Fin Oates |
Production company | |
Distributed by | A24 |
Release dates |
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Running time | 95 minutes[1] |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Budget | $20 million[2] |
Box office | $19.4 million[3][4] |
Warfare is a 2025 war film written and directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. Based on Mendoza's experiences during the Iraq War as a U.S. Navy SEAL, the film depicts an encounter he and his platoon experienced on November 19, 2006 in the wake of the Battle of Ramadi.[5] To maintain historical accuracy, the film's material is exclusively taken from the testimonies of the platoon members, and is presented in real time. It stars an ensemble cast that includes D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Mendoza, alongside Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini. The film is dedicated to platoon member Elliott Miller (Jarvis), who lost his leg and the ability to speak in the incident.[6]
Warfare premiered at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on March 16, 2025, and was released in the United States by A24 on April 11, 2025, and in the United Kingdom on April 18. The film received critical acclaim.
Plot
[edit]In 2006 Ramadi, under darkness Navy SEAL platoon Alpha One takes control of a multi-story house. From the outside it appears to be an average house, however, they are surprised to find that the upper level of the house is a separate apartment. This forces them to break a wall to access the level. From the house, JTAC communications officer Ray Mendoza uses air support to monitor their position while sniper and medic Elliott Miller monitors a neighborhood market across the street. They are performing overwatch in support of the US Marines operation in the area.
The team's translators, Farid and Noor, learn of different families on the two floors of the building and tell them to remain silent and in place. Both Ray and Elliott notice an increase in activity as well as withdrawn air support. ANGLICO LT McDonald radios for any air assets available while the Iraqi translators warn that the enemy on the streets has just broadcast a call to arms. Leading Officer in Charge Erik immediately assigns the translators to guard various parts of the building as Ray communicates their situation. A grenade is thrown into the sniper's room in close proximity to Elliott, Tommy and Frank, though the team is able to avoid any major injuries. The team call for a CASEVAC to medically evacuate Elliott. In preparation, they gather all their weapons and blow claymores. As the Bradley arrives, the translators are sent out first followed by the platoon. An IED explodes next to the Bradley, killing one of the translators and gravely wounding both Elliott and Leading Petty Officer Sam. The Bradley immediately departs.
Alpha One eventually retreats and reorganizes into the house to tend to the wounded. Discombobulated, Erik tries to get the nearby team Alpha Two to urgently collapse into their position however, Alpha Two are slowed down by firefights in the street. Air support returns but due to the opposing fire on the rooftops, LT McDonald can only coordinate a 'show of force'. Ray assesses Sam's injuries and determines a tourniquet is needed, he attempts to put it on Sam's leg but is unable to do so due to his shaking hands. He resorts to placing his knee on Sam's wound which puts Sam in extreme agony. Ray dissociates in this moment causing Erik to snap into action and place the tourniquet on Sam. At the same time, Elliott regains consciousness while LT McDonald tends to his injuries. As the team's medic, Elliott directs LT McDonald to the morphine in his bag which is administered to both Elliott and Sam.
Alpha Two and the third element consolidate in the street and finally make it into Alpha One's building. Their request for a CASEVAC is denied because of the Bradleys' fear of another IED attack. Erik asks Alpha Two leader Jake to take control of the situation and the latter convinces his communications officer, John, to pose as the commanding officer to approve their request to redeploy the Bradleys for evacuation. Jake retrieves gear left on the street in the IED aftermath before Elliott and Sam are successfully loaded into a Bradley each. The rest of the team returns to the house. With activity converging on their surrounding buildings, Jake orders the Bradleys to take out the top deck of their building. His request is initially denied then actioned when he convinces them the top deck is clear of friendlies. Under the cover of another 'show of force', the remaining Alpha One and Alpha Two men are extracted by two Bradleys and exit the neighborhood. The families in the house slowly emerge out of their rooms, realizing the military have left. The Iraqi fighters who were shooting at them from nearby houses gather in the street.
Cast
[edit]With the exception of Mendoza and Miller, all real-life figures were given alternate aliases for their characters, as the rest did not go public with their identities.
- Joseph Quinn as Sam, the LPO (based on Joe Hildebrand[7])
- Charles Melton as Jake, Assistant Officer in Charge
- D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray Mendoza, a communicator/JTAC
- Will Poulter as Erik, Officer in Charge
- Cosmo Jarvis as Elliott Miller, a Corpsman/lead sniper[8]
- Kit Connor as Tommy, a gunner
- Finn Bennett as John, a communicator/JTAC
- Taylor John Smith as Frank, a sniper
- Michael Gandolfini as USMC LT McDonald, an officer in ANGLICO and an FSO
- Adain Bradley as USMC Sgt. Laerrus, a member of ANGLICO
- Noah Centineo as Brian/Zawi, a gunner
- Evan Holtzman as Brock, a sniper
- Henry Zaga as Aaron, point man
- Alex Brockdorff as Mikey, a point man/gunner
- Nathan Altai as Farid
- Donya Hussen as Noor
- Aaron Deakins as Bob
Production
[edit]In February 2024, it was announced that A24 was developing a war film with Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland set attached, which would follow Garland's film Civil War, for which Mendoza was the military supervisor. The duo wrote the script and planned to direct the film together. At the time of the announcement, Charles Melton was in negotiations to star in the film.[9] Joseph Quinn was being considered for the cast as well.[10] D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai was cast in the film to portray Mendoza himself in March 2024, when the title was confirmed to be Warfare,[11] with Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis, Will Poulter, and Finn Bennett being added to the cast as well.[12] That same month, Garland announced his intentions to step back from directing films and focus on writing, while announcing that his directional role in Warfare would be more of a supporting role to Mendoza's.[13] In April 2024, Noah Centineo, Taylor John Smith, Adain Bradley, Michael Gandolfini, Henry Zaga, and Evan Holtzman joined the cast.[14] Principal photography began in May 2024 in London.[15]
Release
[edit]Warfare was released by A24 in the United States on April 11, 2025.[16][17] The film premiered at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on March 16, 2025, featuring a Q&A with the directors and Will Poulter after the screening.
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]In the United States and Canada, Warfare was released alongside The Amateur, Drop, and The King of Kings, and was projected to gross $6–9 million from 2,670 theaters in its opening weekend.[18][2] The film made $3.6 million on its first day, including an estimated $1.16 million from preview screenings throughout the week. It went on to debut to $8.3 million, finishing fourth at the box office.[19][20] In its second weekend the film made $4.9 million (a drop of 41%), finishing in fifth.[21]
Critical response
[edit]![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2025) |
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 184 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Narratively cut to the bone and geared up with superb filmmaking craft, Warfare evokes the primal terror of combat with unnerving power."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[23] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a 90% overall positive score, with 67% saying they would definitely recommend the film.[19]
Gregory Nussen of Deadline Hollywood wrote: "At best, Warfare is an artfully made recreation; at worst it is naked military propaganda set during one of the country's most egregious moments of imperialism."[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "Warfare (15)". BBFC. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 9, 2025). "'A Minecraft Movie' Posts Fourth-Biggest Tuesday In April, Will Stack $65M+ In Second Weekend – Box Office Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ "Warfare". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ "Warfare – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (December 16, 2024). "'Warfare' Trailer: Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza Step Into Navy SEAL Team's Iraq War Experience For A24". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "Why Warfare is Dedicated to Elliott Miller: What Happened to the Real Navy SEAL". Screen Rant.
- ^ Michael Gandolfini’s Transformative ‘Warfare’ Journey Included a Surprising Connection to His Father
- ^ "Warfare | Official First Look | A24". YouTube. March 4, 2025.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (February 6, 2024). "Charles Melton in Talks to Join Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's Untitled War Film at A24". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (February 21, 2024). "Fantastic Four's Joseph Quinn in Talks to Join New Movie from Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland at A24". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 27, 2024). "Ray Mendoza & Alex Garland's Warfare Feature Casts Reservation Dogs Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 28, 2024). "Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis, Will Poulter & Finn Bennett Round Out Lead Cast of Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's Warfare". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ Kaloi, Stephanie (March 31, 2024). "'Civil War' Director Alex Garland Says He's Done Directing for the 'Foreseeable Future'". TheWrap.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (April 10, 2024). "Noah Centineo, Michael Gandolfini, Henrique Zaga, Taylor John Smith, Adain Bradley And Evan Holtzman Join Ray Mendoza And Alex Garland's 'Warfare' At A24". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Calnan, Ellie (April 15, 2024). "2024 film and high-end TV productions shooting in the UK and Ireland: latest updates". Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Gearan, Hannah (December 13, 2024). "Alex Garland's Civil War Follow-Up Warfare Gets A Grim First Look In New Poster". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 21, 2025). "A24 Sets Nationwide Release For Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza's Iraq War Pic 'Warfare'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (April 9, 2025). "Box Office: 'Minecraft' to Steamroll Over Rami Malek's 'Amateur,' Blumhouse Thriller 'Drop'". Variety. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 11, 2025). "'Minecraft' Crosses $200M; 'Amateur' & 'King Of Kings' Herald $2M Previews, More – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ "Domestic 2025 Weekend 15". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 21, 2025). "Sinners Even More Divine With $48M No. 1 Easter Box Office Opening – Monday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
- ^ "Warfare". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Warfare". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Nussen, Gregory (March 28, 2025). "'Warfare' Review: Alex Garland's Iraq War Film Is Full Of Bombastic Aestheticism That Leaves You Feeling Empty". Deadline. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
External links
[edit]- 2025 films
- 2025 action films
- 2020s action war films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s British films
- 2020s English-language films
- 4DX films
- A24 (company) films
- Action films based on actual events
- American films based on actual events
- American action war films
- British films based on actual events
- British action war films
- D-Box motion-enhanced films
- DNA Films films
- English-language action war films
- Films about United States Navy SEALs
- Films directed by Alex Garland
- Films produced by Andrew Macdonald
- Films set in 2006
- Films shot in London
- Films with screenplays by Alex Garland
- IMAX films
- Iraq War films
- War films based on actual events